PUBLIC ART ORDINANCE

Orlando City Code ch. 2, art. XXIII

in effect

Orlando City Code § 2.168 Legislative Finding.

Sec. 2.168. - Legislative Finding. Works of art, architectural enhancement and special landscape treatments must be an integral part of the City of Orlando, if the City is to exemplify the quality of life embodied in the title of "The City Beautiful." (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230)

Orlando City Code § 2.169 Definitions.

Sec. 2.169. - Definitions. For the purpose of this Article, the words and phrases listed below shall have the following definitions: 1. Architectural Enhancement is the physical result of the application of skill and taste according to aesthetic principles to the architectural embellishment of a building, the placement of works of art in the interior or exterior spaces of the building, or special landscape treatments such as parks, plazas or atriums. 2. Construction or Public Work means any capital project paid for wholly or in part by the City of Orlando or paid for with monies granted to the City of Orlando by other governmental agencies; including but not limited to any project to construct or remodel a building, a decorative or commemorative structure, park, parking facility or beautification project or any portion thereof within the city limits of Orlando. 3. Public Art Advisory Board is the Board created in this Article. 4. Public Art Master Plan is defined as a new section of the Growth Management Plan which presents selected sites and criteria for the selection of works of art, special landscape treatments and architectural enhancement. 5. Public Places are defined to be City-owned parks and buildings with high visibility and/or heavy pedestrian traffic or privately-owned property with high visibility and/or levels of pedestrian traffic that is consistently and constantly open to the public. 6. Special Landscape Treatment shall be defined as landscaping that creates a park-like setting or plaza, as opposed to the landscaping requirements normally associated with the siting of a public facility. 7. Works of Art are defined as the application of skill and taste to tangible objects produced according to aesthetic principles and include, but are not limited to, paintings, sculpture, engravings, carvings, frescos, mobiles, murals, collages, mosaics, statues, bas reliefs, tapestries, photographs and drawings. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230)

Orlando City Code § 2.170 Public Art Advisory Board, Creation, Composition, Responsibility.

Sec. 2.170. - Public Art Advisory Board, Creation, Composition, Responsibility. 1. A Public Art Advisory Board is hereby created as a body of individuals appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council which shall have the duty and responsibility to generate a Public Art Master Plan for review and approval by the Municipal Planning Board and City Council and to make recommendations on specific public art projects, including the selection of works of art, special landscape treatments and architectural enhancements. 2. The Public Art Advisory Board shall be comprised of nine (9) members as follows: Wherever possible, six (6) members shall be representative of one (1) or more of the following classifications: - architect or interior designer - landscape architect or land use planner - professional in the field of art - art or architectural historian - art educator - artist Four (4) members shall be citizens with knowledge of and appreciation for the visual arts. The architect or other design professional for a specific City project may advise the Board during the selection process as it relates to his/her project but shall not be a voting member of the Board. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230; Ord. of 7-15-1985, Doc. #19570; Ord. of 1-14-1991, Doc. #24514; Ord. of 3-25-1996, Doc. #29238; Ord. of 4-6-1998, Doc. #31130)

Orlando City Code § 2.171 Funds for Architectural Enhancement and Works of Art.

Sec. 2.171. - Funds for Architectural Enhancement and Works of Art. Except as provided herein, all estimates for the construction or renovation of capital projects and all requests for authorizations or appropriations for such projects shall include an amount for a Public Art Fund which represents a combined amount for works of art, architectural enhancement or special landscaping treatment equal to one percent (1%) of the total estimated cost of the project. The one percent (1%) calculation shall only apply to the first $50,000,000.00 for any single project which has an estimated construction cost exceeding $50,000,000.00. The Public Art Fund requirement shall only apply if such an expenditure is legally permissible for that project and under the specific project funding sources. If the source of funding or other appropriate law with respect to any particular project precludes art as an object of expenditure of funds, the amount of funds so restricted shall be excluded from the aforesaid calculation. Said works of art, architectural enhancement or special landscape treatment may be integral parts of the building; situated within or outside the building, may be located in or near government facilities which have already been constructed, or may be located in other public places where numbers of people may experience them. The location of works of art, architectural enhancement or special landscape treatment paid for out of project funds at a site other than the specific project site, requires a prior finding by the City Council that the location of works of art, architectural enhancement or special landscape treatment at the specific project site is inappropriate for that particular project, that it serves a municipal purpose to locate such are objects or improvements elsewhere, and that it is an appropriate use of those particular funds. Public Art Fund monies may be expended for the development of a Public Art Master Plan for the City of Orlando and any necessary updates to said plan. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230; Ord. of 7-7-2008, § 1, Doc. #0807071006)

Orlando City Code § 2.172 Procedures.

Sec. 2.172. - Procedures. 1. For construction or public works financed by the City of Orlando, the following procedure shall be complied with: a. Early in the design of a project, the Architect or other design professional retained for that project shall work with the Public Art Advisory Board to develop a site plan for adding art works, architectural enhancements or special landscape treatments to the project. b. The Public Art Advisory Board shall recommend to the Orlando City Council those works of art, architectural enhancements, or special landscape treatments it deems are appropriate to the project in accordance with the Public Art Master Plan. In no case shall the Public Art Advisory Board take such time to render its findings as to delay or hinder the design or construction of the project. c. The City Council shall, in its discretion, accept or reject the recommendations of the Public Art Advisory Board. If such recommendations are rejected, the City Council may request the Public Arts Advisory Board to submit alternative recommendations. When recommendations are accepted, the City Council may designate the manner by which artists, sculptors, designers, craftsmen or contractors are retained for each project, but in no case shall the City Council be required to comply with the bidding requirements of the Purchasing Code unless the City Council determines it appropriate under the circumstances. 2. When funds have accrued from construction and public works projects which do not lend themselves to the visual arts or for which there is no major public benefit, the Public Art Advisory Board shall, in accordance with the Public Art Master Plan, select works of art, architectural enhancements, or special landscape treatments for other sites and recommend them to City Council for approval. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230)

Orlando City Code § 2.173 Selection Criteria for Sites and Public Art.

Sec. 2.173. - Selection Criteria for Sites and Public Art. In the selection process, the Public Art Advisory Board shall consider the following criteria: 1. Works of art, architectural enhancements and special landscape treatments shall be located in areas where residents and visitors live, work or congregate and shall be highly visible and accessible. 2. The Public Art Advisory Board shall consider the intrusive nature of public art on the lives of those who frequent public places. Works of art, architectural enhancements or special landscape treatments shall take into account appropriateness to the site, permanence of the work relative to environmental conditions, maintenance requirements and costs, and the enduring nature of the artistic statement. 3. Wherever possible, the selection should show sensitivity to the aesthetic and cultural traditions of The City of Orlando, to its history and to the environmental and geographic characteristics that make it unique. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230)

Orlando City Code § 2.174 Ownership and Maintenance.

Sec. 2.174. - Ownership and Maintenance. Unless otherwise provided, ownership of all works of art and architectural enhancements acquired by the City under this section is vested in the City including copyrights, patents and other reproduction rights. The City shall be responsible for managing the reproduction rights of each acquisition with advice and counsel from the Public Art Advisory Board. Custody, supervision, maintenance and preservation of the works of art is the charge of the City's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and shall be carried out by qualified art professionals. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230; Ord. of 10-25-1999, § 15, Doc. #32410)

Orlando City Code § 2.175 Procedures.

Sec. 2.175. - Procedures. Subject to City Council approval, the Public Art Advisory Board shall develop written guidelines and procedures to govern the manner and method of selection of proposed sites, works of art, architectural enhancement and special landscape treatment; and the process by which the recommendations shall be made to City Council and by which Council shall approve acquisitions. (Ord. of 12-12-1983, Doc. #18230)

Source: City of Orlando, Florida, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/orlando/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIICICO_CH2AD_ARTXXIIIPUARORFetched: 11/1/2026